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Draft day on horizon

Draft day on horizon

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELD --LSU starting pitcher Aaron Nola delivers a pitch during the game between LSU and Yale on earlier this season at Alex Box Stadium. Nola says Friday will probably be his last regular-season home start.Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELD -- LSU right-hander Aaron Nola delivers a pitch during the season opener against UNO on Feb. 14.Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELD -- LSU starting pitcher Aaron Nola delivers a pitch during the season opener between University of New Orleans and LSU on Friday at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

After three years at LSU that have drawn plenty of attention, LSU ace Aaron Nola says Friday may be his last regular-season start in Alex Box Stadium as he contemplates professional baseball

He can help increase those chances, of course. LSU (35-13-1, 13-10-1 Southeastern Conference) is No. 17 in the RPI and fifth overall in the SEC standings, placing the Tigers among a group of teams on the bubble of hosting an NCAA regional.

The top 16 are awarded host sites, set for May 29-June 1.

That’s more of Nola’s focus.

“I hadn’t really thought about the draft really. Got a little more work to do for the Tigers,” he said. “Probably my last home regular season start over here. It kind of hits you pretty hard.”

The big picture, though, is Nola’s future in baseball and the mark he’ll leave at LSU.

The Nolas — A.J. and Stacey — haven’t talked much to their son about making the leap to professional baseball.

They’ve lectured him about finances, already delivering the message that his hefty signing bonus will go into savings, and that he’ll have to live off the modest salary minor leaguers make.

There’s been talk of food, too.

“I say, ‘You’re going to have to learn how to cook,’” Stacey said.

Aaron will shoot back at her: “I know how to cook.”

Stacey’s response: “Yeeeeaaah. More than eggs.”

The parents allow Austin to do more of the advice-giving.

“As any kid who’s about to go to professional baseball, they want to go, and it’s in the back of their mind,” said Austin Nola, the former LSU shortstop now playing for the Jacksonville Suns, the Marlins’ Double-A affiliate. “But they’ve got these games to finish.”

Aaron Nola has done little this season to decrease his value to professional teams.

Nola’s 1.58 ERA is just a notch under last season’s 1.57 mark. He has 102 strikeouts, 12 more than this time last season. He’s allowed four fewer earned runs than he did through 49 games in 2013.

His banner season led Mainieri to proclaim a few weeks ago, “He could knock a gnat off of a bull from 60 feet.”

As Nola career winds down, his numbers in three seasons with the Tigers stack up with some of the best in LSU history.

His career ERA of 2.18 and 313 strikeouts are both good for sixth all-time in the record books. Nola’s 26 career victories puts him two outside of the top 10, and he’s thrown four wild pitches in 301.1 innings.

They don’t keep a stat on that, but if they did …

“He has impeccable control,” Mainieri said. “Amazing command.”

Mainieri will be sweating out draft day. LSU has a host of highly rated signees expected to be picked in the first 10 rounds.

He won’t sweat too much with Nola.

The money — and opportunity — is just too big.

The smallest signing bonus for a first-round pick last year was $1.65 million.

The average for a first-rounder: $2.6 million. Only one player selected in the first round last year did not sign.

One site claims that Nola “could be the first starting pitcher from this year’s draft class to make it to the big leagues.”

The draft is set for June 5. Nola turns 21 on June 4.

And June 6? That’s when super regionals are set to begin.

For now, that’s the focus.

“I told him, ‘Professional baseball will be there,’” Austin said. “He’s in the present. He’s not looking to the future.”